John Economaki

Below, our annual index of all stories that appeared in Catalog Success throughout 2006, including this issue. (For easy reference, use the print screen.) Cataloger Profiles Cover Stories United Receptacle: “B-to-B Goes ‘Plug and Play’” by Alicia Orr Suman, January Reiman Publications: “The Synergistic Approach” by Alicia Orr Suman, February Boston Proper: “Billion-Dollar Opportunity” by Donna Loyle, May Spiegel Brands: “How Spiegel Recovered” by Paul Miller, June Smarthome Direct: “Growth the Smart Way” by Matt Griffin, July J&L Industrial Supply: “Shaped Up, Shipped Out” by Paul Miller, August Northern Safety Co.: “Safely Ahead of the Game” by Matt Griffin, September AmeriMark Direct: “Steady

© Profile of Success, Catalog Success magazine, March 2006 Interview by Matt Griffin Catalog Success: When was the catalog established? John Economaki: Bridge City Tool Works began with a single space ad in the November/December 1983 issue of Fine Woodworking. CS: What is your primary merchandise? JE: A proprietary line of non-powered, precision woodworking hand tools. CS: What is your annual circulation? JE: We no longer produce a "catalog" per se. One of the realities we faced post 9/11 was the contraction of our market. Today we mail several smaller 16-to-32 page offers with total circulation less than 1 million pieces. CS: How did

© Profile of Success, Catalog Success magazine, March 2006 Interview by Matt Griffin Catalog Success: When was the catalog established? John Economaki: Bridge City Tool Works began with a single space ad in the November/December 1983 issue of Fine Woodworking. CS: What is your primary merchandise? JE: A proprietary line of non-powered, precision woodworking hand tools. CS: What is your annual circulation? JE: We no longer produce a "catalog" per se. One of the realities we faced post 9/11 was the contraction of our market. Today we mail several smaller 16-to-32 page offers with total circulation less than 1 million pieces. CS: How did

Background: While working as a furniture maker and designer, John Economaki developed an allergy to wood dust and was forced to find a different outlet for his woodworking skills. When his proposal to design high-quality tools for a woodworking catalog was turned down because the tools would be too expensive, he took out a space ad in a woodworking magazine in 1983 to advertise two of the tools. The sales and catalog requests the ad generated convinced him to start his own catalog. Biggest career challenge: In 2001, Economaki took a short-term loan to move his manufacturing operation to a larger